Jamie Horowitz, a programming executive at ESPN, has been tapped as senior vice president and general manager of "Today." In that role he will be in charge of all four hours of the morning show and will report to Deborah Turness, the president of NBC News.

CaptionAlec Baldwin | 'Up Late With Alec Baldwin,' 2013

Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times

"Up Late With Alec Baldwin" lasted one month. The actor's heady outburst following his two-week suspension from the show (he allegedly used a gay slur while confronting a photographer in New York) resulted in a permanent shutdown.

"Up Late With Alec Baldwin" lasted one month. The actor's heady outburst following his two-week suspension from the show (he allegedly used a gay slur while confronting a photographer in New York) resulted in a permanent shutdown. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times)

Emmy-winning "Survivor" host Jeff Probst seems to do much better in the wild than in an arm chair. His aim to feature non-celebrities on "The Jeff Probst Show" didn't snag a following — the show lasted for one season.

Emmy-winning "Survivor" host Jeff Probst seems to do much better in the wild than in an arm chair. His aim to feature non-celebrities on "The Jeff Probst Show" didn't snag a following — the show lasted for one season. (Bob Chamberlin / Los Angeles Times)

"The Ricki Lake Show," Lake's first return to talk TV since 2004, was nixed after one season due to flat ratings. "Always the underdog. From 'Hairspray' till now, I guess. I'll take it," she tweeted after the cancellation news broke.

"The Ricki Lake Show," Lake's first return to talk TV since 2004, was nixed after one season due to flat ratings. "Always the underdog. From 'Hairspray' till now, I guess. I'll take it," she tweeted after the cancellation news broke. (Anne Cusack / Los Angeles Times)

O'Donnell exited with extreme gratitude to the OWN Network when her show got canceled after one season due to low ratings: "Oprah [Winfrey] gave me an amazing shot at doing this. ... She put me back on TV. She believed in me," she said.

O'Donnell exited with extreme gratitude to the OWN Network when her show got canceled after one season due to low ratings: "Oprah [Winfrey] gave me an amazing shot at doing this. ... She put me back on TV. She believed in me," she said. (Nam Y. Huh / Associated Press)

Remini's contract was not renewed come Season 2. Though CBS did not disclose the reason for Remini's release, the decision followed heavy criticism that the star of "The King of Queens" received for her impulsive behavior on the first week of the show.

Remini's contract was not renewed come Season 2. Though CBS did not disclose the reason for Remini's release, the decision followed heavy criticism that the star of "The King of Queens" received for her impulsive behavior on the first week of the show. (Monty Brinton / CBS)

"Jamie has the skills, the talent and the experience to lead the 'Today' brand into the future," Turness said in a statement. In an internal memo to staff, Turness said besides oversight of the over-the-air content of "Today," Horowitz will also look to expand the show's reach on digital platforms and elsewhere.

Don Nash, the executive producer of "Today" will report to Horowitz.

At ESPN since 2006, Horowitz is currently a vice president of original programming and production. Shows Horowitz has had a hand in running include "First Take," Olbermann" and "SportsNation." Prior to joining ESPN, Horowitz was at NBC Sports, where he worked on the network's Olympics coverage.

Sixteen years after SpongeBob SquarePants first appeared on television, the yellow animated character made a splash on the big screen this weekend with the release of "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water."